Our Story
From a childhood dream in New Mexico to a global calling—discover how faith, perseverance, and compassion transform lives across the world.
Staci Austin
Founder
The Calling Begins
The Rory and Sully Project was born from a calling that began in childhood and was shaped through a lifetime of experiences centered on children, faith, and purpose. As a young girl, I dreamed of creating a safe place for children without families—a place where they would be loved, protected, and given the opportunity to thrive. That dream never left me. It followed me into adulthood, quietly growing as God placed people and experiences in my life that prepared me for this mission.
My professional life has always been rooted in caring for children. I began working in child care at a young age, later becoming certified to direct and own child care centers. By my early twenties, I was leading and operating centers of my own, gaining firsthand experience in what children truly need to feel secure, valued, and supported. These years laid a foundation—not just in education and structure, but in understanding the power of stability and love in a child's life.
The Rory and Sully Project is also deeply personal. It is named after Rory and Sullivan, the children of my best friend, Ellyn, who shared my childhood dream of helping orphans around the world. Ellyn and I grew up believing that God had a heart for the vulnerable, and that one day we would be part of that work. Although Ellyn passed away, her legacy lives on through this mission. Rory and Sully represent not only her children, but every child who deserves hope, dignity, and a future.
"Over the years, God opened doors for me to serve internationally, particularly in Kenya, where I witnessed the profound impact that education, support, and advocacy can have on vulnerable children and families. I saw how something as simple as school fees or access to basic resources could change the entire trajectory of a child's life. These experiences confirmed what had been placed on my heart long ago—this was not just a dream, but a calling."
The purpose of the Rory and Sully Project is simple yet powerful: to protect, educate, and uplift children who are at risk, ensuring they have access to education and the opportunity to build a brighter future. We exist to stand in the gap for children who cannot advocate for themselves, and to partner with communities to create lasting, sustainable change.
At its core, the Rory and Sully Project is about love in action. It is about answering God's call to care for "the least of these" and believing that when we invest in children, we invest in generations to come.
Our Mission
Driven by Purpose
Connecting hearts, changing futures.
The Rory and Sully Project is a faith-driven nonprofit dedicated to protecting, uplifting, and empowering orphans, vulnerable children, widows, and families in crisis across the world. Born from a childhood vision shared with best friend Ellyn—and named in honor of her children—the project carries forward a legacy of compassion, purpose, and calling.
Our mission reaches across continents, focusing on practical, sustainable, and deeply relational care in places where children are most at risk. We believe that every child deserves protection, hope, and the opportunity to thrive.
What We Do
Kenya
- • Partners with local leaders and communities in Nairobi and the Lake Victoria region
- • Provides food, school fees, emergency relief, and community support
- • Builds programs addressing abuse, trauma, addiction, and mental health
- • Supports widows and single mothers through empowerment initiatives
Our Future Vision
Our calling extends beyond Kenya. We are planning to expand the Rory and Sully Project's work to the Philippines and other regions around the world where vulnerable children, trafficking survivors, and families in crisis need protection, healing, and hope.
As God opens doors and provides resources, we will launch programs to rescue, restore, and reintegrate at-risk children in these communities. We'll share exciting updates as this vision becomes reality.
Local & Global Work
- • Assists families escaping domestic violence or homelessness
- • Provides emergency resources, housing connections, and advocacy
- • Partners with churches, nonprofits, and community leaders to create long-term impact
- • Raises awareness about the realities of trafficking, trauma, and global child vulnerability
At its heart, the Rory and Sully Project is about answering a lifelong calling—one God planted in the founder's childhood—to protect children, fight injustice, and bring hope to the places where others have turned away.
What Others Say
"Ever since I have known Staci Austin, I have known her to be a take-charge person, driven to succeed yet she has a heart as soft as a lamb. Her dedication to reach and impact the children in Kenya comes from a lifelong dream she and her childhood friend Ellyn shared. Despite multiple obstacles that have been placed in her path, along with the doubt of others who don't share her vision, Staci has persevered. It is an honor to know Staci Austin."
— John Harrell
"With passion, perseverance and purpose, Staci Austin has devoted herself to helping the children of Kenya without wavering. Having known Staci for 20+ years, I can confirm she is a faith-filled woman grounded in Christian beliefs. Staci has a heart for people, especially kids in need. It is my prayer that God will continue to bless Staci's work through Rory and Sully, and that she will touch the lives of the children in Kenya and wherever God leads her."
— Deanna McAlpine-Robinson
Join Our Mission
Your generosity directly transforms the lives of orphaned children and vulnerable families across Kenya, the Philippines, and around the world. Be part of something bigger than yourself.